It looks like T-Mobile is pushing out an over-the-air update to their recently released G2 handset that packs a couple of handy features. According to users over at xda-developers, the update brings Wi-Fi Calling, mobile hotspot creation, an update to the radio code, and several other performance tweaks. We’re sure the new code will be welcomed with open arms by those of you who have already picked up a G2. If you’re rocking said handset, and install the OTA update, let us know what you find!

that’s great news. I was getting a little dishearted looking at the new features other tmi android handsets like the myTouch and Moto Defy were getting. this G2 is some of the best hardware tmobile ever released. now with wireless tethering and wifi calling it will be even better. now too see what will be the price for these features

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Birmingham Americas

joe cool

whats the charge for the mobile hotspot??

del ftl

0

nicole

T-Mobile doesn’t charge for tethering. Which IMHO is why T-Mobile > everyone else… Verzion/ Sprint/ ATT charge for what your phone can already do…. sure you can hack it… but this is a no root wi-fi hotspot for FREE…. if they had this feature pre-release i would of got it.

G2

They don’t charge you anything because your contract technically tells you that you’re not allowed to provide internet access to other devices. So maybe sometime in the future T-Mobile will actually enforce the rules you signed and agreed to.

tarman

I think the question on a lot of minds is will the update disappear if you reset your phone. If not, I’m sure the geniuses over at XDA will tear it apart and have root for everyone.

patrick

Pay attention Mitorizon. This could be you if you stuck to vanilla and left the bloatware out.

Jason

heck yeah! leave the open source android, open! i see no need for MANDATORY bloatware. at least give people the option to remove it. HTC sense is nice n all, but still there should be an easy way for consumers to get the full google experience (even through a hard reset and choice of what to load). they should focus less on locking phones down, and more on making them better, and what better way then to have a community effort

bob

This phone doesnt have htc sense. Stop commenting on products you don’t own.

Russ

Wow you tool…
If you had paid attention for a second you would realize they were talking about a product OTHER than the G2 in COMPARISON to the G2. Maybe you should read the whole stream before you get all insulting.

bob

I suggest you go back and re-read.

Kevmo

I was under the impression that the tmobile wireless hot spot feature would be free…any ideas on when this update will start hitting phones? I’m already in love with this g2. More features is always nice though.

mingkee

According to what the corp store rep supervisor said, future android phones will have both wifi calling and mobile hotspot.
It appears his words are truee. Hopefully T-Mobile would offer free tethering with smartphone/BB/Android internet, which is a killer feature, or at least gives customers more convenience when it is necessary.
Remember that, cellular internet cannot replace landline internet.

Norm

Itd be a lot better if it were on Verizon and had the true DROID OS.

Will

And now the countdown begins until the wifi calling feature reaches CM6 =]

mingkee

Great!
I think I can go out and buy one. The last requirement has finally met.

userfriendlyme

Waiting on reports of people actually getting this update the info found on XDA seem legit however no one else has reported anything. And update in general is needed for this phone. I like my G2 but the reception issues for one have been. Problematic for me. Hopefully this new radio update they speak of in the OTA address those problems. Possibly just maybe allowing us to adjust the trackball notification so we don’t have to stare at the phone for what seems forever. I think seeing tmobile push and OTA this soon after a phones release can only be a plus for them either way.

sean76

Thing has been out a week…good going HTC and Tmobile…vzw, Samsung u should take notes! No update in site for the Fascinate or US Galaxy phones..

hydr0

@Sean76

thats a lie.. the EPIC 4g and other Galaxy S phones have all rcvd OTA updates..

serpentor

Does the G2 use stock Android?

Russ

yup.

http://theandroidguru.blogspot.com The Android Guru

Now someone needs to package up that wi-fi calling application & post the .apk online so I can put it on my N1

mingkee

I am also expecting that. This will make nexus one hot again!

http://robert.aitchison.org Robert Aitchison

Still not going to buy it if I can’t root it.

Usman

Root’s overrated, IMO. I had a rooted G1 for the longest time… bought my N1 the day it came out and haven’t had a reason to root yet.

Kar

You should root your N1. Not rooting your N1 at this point is like marrying a hot stripper and not getting a lap dance. I rooted 3 months ago, and I am on my third Rom in 2 weeks. I managed to put all my apps and widgets in SD card that I got like 78 apps and my phone memory is like 160 MB free. Seriously, man, one clicked root, and get your lap dance. I followed that Chinese method and my bootloader is still lock. Sweet!

Kurt

So android/Tmo noob here. Is this WiFi calling feature the UMA version like with the Tmo BB’s? Or is it like the upcoming Android flavor, once you leave the WiFi area your call is dropped and you need to call back on the network?

Looking at Tmo as my next carrier in the Denver area and this would be huge in swaying me away from going to Big Red.

Carlos

What I understand from Tmo Reps (yet they typically know nothing), is that the Android WiFi will be missing the handshake that BB has. In other words it will not change from network types seamlessly without dropping calls.

With that said…my bb always, and I mean always, dropped every call I was one when “handshaking” between the networks, so just the fact that it has WiFi I’m very happy!

Most places in the world you can find free wireless, so it make getting in touc stateside very easy and convenient!!! WiFi Calling rocks!!!

patrick

Anyone know how tmobile is in Portland compared to Verizon? Thinking of switching because it seems like the bloatware is to continue.

Matt

If you mean Portland, Oregon (not Maine) then coverage is fine and the folks at the store are friendly enough.

sean76

@hydro…
What planet are u on? The Fascinate has not received anything! Vzw means VERIZON is case u didn’t know. And there has been no signal fix or patch for the GPS PROBLEM. Maybe your MAGICAL phone was the only one who got it, cause I haven’t received jack OTA.

CouldBEinteresting….

I purchased my G2 yesterday 10/11 Dallas, TX area. I have not seen the update yet. Anxiously waiting…….tapping foot…….waiting……

Carl Bolanos Jr.

Hahah i purchased mine last week on Monday i think it was through Radio Shack and i am also anxiously awaiting the OTA update.

LCW

this might actually make me buy a G2 and ditch at&t and the iP4… damn you t-mobile for doing the right thing! ;)

drew

I finally had it with att and dropping calls on my ip4 and have the g2 and LOOOOOOVVVEEEE ITTTTT !!!
This is the first android phone I’ve had with good battery life as good as the iphone 4. And haven’t dropped a call in 3 weeks the network has come a long way since 2007

Joe

Can anyone more knowledgeable with Android help me out? If I were to buy one of these at retail, could I unlock it and use the WiFi calling on AT&T instead? I imagine it’s a carrier based feature, but maybe not?

Delusion FTL

At&t did not implement the UMA network endpoints required to use wifi calling or other UMA features. It would not matter what you did. AT&T has no infrastructure for that.